Huawei opens US online store with a bang: Ascend Mate2 for $299 unlocked

The price wars are on, and Huawei is the latest to join the fray. The Chinese company just cut the ribbon on its US online store with a great deal on the massive Ascend Mate2.

Going for pre-order on GetHuawei.com for just $299 starting today, the 6.1-inch Ascend Mate2 was introduced at CES in January. Back then, our Joshua Vergara was decently impressed with the device, although the small resolution and mid-range specs will put off users looking for the high-end. Here’s Josh’s hands-on look at the Ascend Mate2.

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As a refresher, the Huawei Ascend Mate2 comes with a 6.1-inch IPS LCD screen of 1280 x 720 pixels resolution, a Snapdragon 400 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 13MP camera, and a massive 3,900-mAh battery. Combined with the relatively low density of the screen and undemanding processor, the battery life of the Ascend Mate2 should be at the top of the charts. Huawei claims a single charge should be good for streaming three movies or surfing the web for 12 hours.

The Ascend Mate2 is not the most impressive device out there, and its massive dimensions could be a turn off even for devotees of large devices. But if a large smartphone (or small tablet) is what you are looking for, the Mate2 is a great deal at $299.

Huawei is sweetening the bargain with a free case, a free SIM card with one month of service, and 20GB of storage on Bitcasa for life, for all customers pre-ordering the Ascend Mate2 LTE on GetHuawei between now and June 22.

Huawei is a powerhouse in Asia, but so far has failed to make a strong push in the US, where its image is associated with the interests of the Chinese government. The company is looking to put this perception behind it, “by delivering premium experiences, well-made and well-priced devices in a totally new way,” said the president of Huawei Device’s US branch. The Ascend Mate 2 is definitely well priced, but we’ll have to see if it’s Huawei’s ticket to the front-row of the US mobile industry.

Show Press Release

Go BIG with the HUAWEI Ascend Mate2 4G LTE

6.1-inch smartphone now available for pre-order at 299.00 USD on GetHuawei.com

Plano, Texas, June 12, 2014: Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, today made the Huawei Ascend Mate2 4G LTE available for pre-order in the U.S. , exclusively through the company’s new ecommerce site, GetHuawei.com.

Together, GetHuawei.com and the Ascend Mate2 offer consumers a smart way to purchase their next smartphone: A convenient online shopping experience with exclusive deals, premium services, and a great, unlocked device at an accessible price – $299 USD.

“This year, Huawei is ready to challenge the status quo by delivering premium experiences, well-made and well-priced devices in totally new way,” said Mr. Zhiqiang Xu, President of Huawei Device USA.

GetHuawei.com special offers

GetHuawei.com is a new venture for Huawei Device USA. The site offers consumers an opportunity to purchase the unlocked Ascend Mate2 and take advantage of special offers and premium services exclusive to GetHuawei.com customers.

For the launch of the Ascend Mate2, consumers who pre-order a device between now and June 22 will receive a SIM card with a free month of service and an additional bonus – a phone case to protect their Ascend Mate2. In addition to the SIM card and phone case, consumers purchasing an Ascend Mate2 will also receive lifetime 20GB of online storage free from Bitcasa.

“With the Ascend Mate2, you just pop your SIM card in and you are ready to go, ” Mr. Xu said. “No need to worry about contracts or restrictions. You get a 4G LTE-ready device right out of the box.”

A Hybrid of “Bests”

Announced at the Consumer Electronics Show this year, the 4G LTE-enabled Ascend Mate2 was designed with today’s constantly connected consumer in mind.

“We put everything we know into the Mate2,” Mr. Xu said. “This devices has what it takes to help you live large: big power, big screen, big camera. The Mate2 has more of everything you want in a smartphone.”

The Ascend Mate2 features a powerful quad-core 1.6 GHz processor and a long-lasting 3900mAh lithium polymer battery that lets you enjoy a half-day of web surfing on a single charge. Featuring unique power-saving technology that improves performance by more than 30 percent versus other smartphones in its class, a single charge can let you:

 Stream three movies in a row;

 Surf the web for 12 hours;

 Talk for 25 hours;

 Or, listen to 100 hours of music.

With a large 6.1-inch, Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 IPS screen, and lightning-fast LTE Cat4 connectivity, the Mate2 is perfect for non-stop entertainment.

The 13-megapixel BSI rear-facing camera, features a 2.0 aperture, making it easy to take crystal clear , professional-quality photos. Turn the phone around and its 5-megapixel front-facing camera, offers both panoramic mode and Auto Face Enhancement, so you get a wider view to help you create amazingly selfies and groufies.

Running Android™ 4.3, the Ascend Mate2 comes in black and white, and features Huawei’s proprietary Emotion UI 2.0 Lite, for easy customization. Despite the large screen, the Ascend Mate2’s 9.5mm slim shape, and the ergonomic designed casing make it comfortable to hold and operate.